In Part 1, we explored how anxiety and depression can be influenced by gut health, inflammation, metabolism, blood sugar, and hormones.
Conventional medicine has made tremendous advances in treating anxiety and depression, and these treatments can provide meaningful support for many people.
However, because mental health often involves multiple body systems, I believe it makes sense to have an action plan that supports multiple systems rather than focusing on only one.
How Does Traditional Chinese Medicine View Anxiety and Depression?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views mood disorders as manifestations of imbalance within the body’s organ systems.
Each organ is associated with particular emotions and physiological functions, and when those systems become imbalanced, both physical and emotional symptoms may appear.
Rather than separating the mind from the body, TCM recognizes that they continuously influence one another.
The Spleen: Digestion and Clear Thinking
In TCM, the Spleen is responsible for both digestion and thinking.
When the Spleen has abundant Qi and Blood, it supports clear, organized, and focused thinking.
This is one reason TCM has always recognized the close relationship between digestive health and mental function.
Whether someone experiences anxiety or depression, it is common for their thoughts to feel disorganized or difficult to control.
Many people describe this feeling as “not feeling like themselves.”
The Spleen also produces the Qi and Blood that nourish the Shen, often translated as the spirit or consciousness.
When the Spleen is strong, the Shen is well nourished, supporting emotional stability, mental clarity, and awareness.
However, when digestion becomes weak, the Spleen also becomes weakened.
A weak Spleen cannot efficiently transform food into the Qi and Blood needed to nourish the Shen.
As a result, people may experience digestive symptoms such as:
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- A feeling of heaviness
When the Spleen cannot properly transform and transport fluids, dampness accumulates.
This dampness can cloud the Clear Yang and the Shen, affecting executive function, cognitive clarity, and emotional stability.
Someone with Spleen Qi deficiency may experience:
- Brain fog
- Slow thinking
- A heavy sensation in the body
- Overthinking
- Mental fatigue
The Liver: Keeping Qi Moving
Although every organ contributes to emotional regulation, the Liver and Kidneys play especially important roles.
The Liver is responsible for maintaining the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body.
When someone experiences anxiety or depression, the flow of Qi often becomes stagnant.
This stagnation may manifest as:
- Thoughts that feel stuck
- Poor mental clarity
- Sleep disturbances
- Emotional frustration
From a modern perspective, Liver Qi stagnation can resemble poor regulation of the sympathetic nervous system or autonomic nervous system.
Yin, Yang, and Emotional Balance
TCM views health as a balance between Yin and Yang.
The key to maintaining that balance is the smooth, unobstructed flow of Qi, allowing Yin and Yang to support and nourish one another.
When Qi becomes blocked, Yin and Yang can no longer regulate each other effectively.
In general:
- Yang deficiency may present with symptoms more commonly associated with depression.
- Yin deficiency may allow Yang to become relatively hyperactive, contributing to symptoms commonly seen with anxiety.
What Causes Liver Qi Stagnation?
Liver Qi stagnation may develop from both internal and external factors.
Internally, constantly suppressing emotions such as stress, anger, sadness, or worry can gradually interfere with the smooth flow of Qi.
Keeping everything inside may eventually contribute to stagnation.
Externally, stressful life circumstances or unhealthy relationships can also create a sense of feeling emotionally suppressed, leading to the same pattern.
The Kidneys and Emotional Resilience
The Kidneys play an important role in resilience.
In TCM, the Kidneys store our Essence (Jing), Yin, Yang, and Qi, providing the foundation that helps us adapt to life’s changes.
We inherit our Kidney Essence from our parents.
As we grow, this Essence supports the development of our Qi, Yin, and Yang.
Some people naturally inherit a stronger constitutional foundation than others, which may help explain why certain individuals are more susceptible to emotional challenges.
However, this does not mean our resilience cannot be strengthened.
Rebuilding Your Foundation
One of the goals of TCM is to help preserve and rebuild the body’s foundation.
We can support ourselves by:
- Avoiding overexertion
- Following the natural rhythms of day and night
- Respecting seasonal changes
- Understanding our personal limits
- Allowing ourselves adequate rest instead of constantly pushing beyond our capacity
These simple principles help conserve our energy and strengthen our resilience, especially during challenging periods of life.
Looking Beyond the Symptoms
Anxiety and depression are not simply conditions of the mind.
They often reflect the health of multiple systems working together.
Traditional Chinese Medicine reminds us that emotional health is closely connected to digestion, the flow of Qi, our constitutional strength, and the balance of the entire body.
When we begin supporting those underlying systems, we are not simply addressing symptoms—we are helping restore the internal balance that allows both the body and mind to function at their best.
Ready to Look Beyond the Symptoms?
If you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, brain fog, fatigue, digestive issues, or simply don’t feel like yourself, it may be time to look beyond managing symptoms alone.
At Eastern Wellness, we combine Traditional Chinese Medicine and Functional Medicine to help identify the underlying patterns that may be contributing to your physical and emotional health. By taking a whole-body approach, we work to support the interconnected systems that influence mood, resilience, digestion, and overall well-being.
If you’re ready to better understand what your body may be trying to tell you, we’re here to help.
Schedule your consultation today and take the first step toward restoring balance from the inside out.
